Gurbani Raag Suhi


Suhi is classified in the Ragmala as a raoni of Nfeglta. It was a favourite with Muslims and was considered proper for the hot season. Tociav this raga belongs to the Ktifi thata and its performance time is late morning. In the Holy Book one variant is given, Raga Suhi Lalit. Sfilii was used by Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan for 130 hymns, a var plus many slokas.

This is morning raga and a happy one. The Gurus have composed hymns concerning married life in this raga. These are Ghorian, Lavan, Suchaji, Kuchaji and Gunwanti. There are several references to the life of the householder and particularly to the condition of the housewife. Her longing for her spouse becomes very keen and irresistible, as the night deepens:
“I have neither beauty now bewitching eyes nor decent manners, now sweet speech.
The bride bedecks herself with divine knowledge.
If her spouse loves her, she becomes a happy wife”[11].

Aroh : Sa Re Ga Nla Pa, Ni Dha Ni Sa

Avroh : Sa Ni Dha Pa, Nla Ga, Re Ga Re, Sa

Vadi : Pa

Samvadi : Sa

Introduction :

This raga is also called raga Suha and raga Suhbi and is listed as a consort of raga Meg. It is made up of a union of raga Bharvi, Sri, Kanra and Sarang. Some musical schools list it as a daughter-in-law of raga Bharay.

This raga under its present name is not mentioned in the Ragamala listed at the end of Guru Granth Sahib. The raginis of raga Meg mentioned in the ragamala are: Sorath, Gaud, Malarai, Asa and Suho. Many authors are of the view that Suho is raga Suhi.

The scale and notes of the raga are as follows:

Arohi (ascending scale) - sa re ga ma, re ga ma pa, ni dha ni sa

Avrohi (descending scale) - sa ni dha pa, ni dha pa, ma ga, dha pa ma ga re, pa ma ga re ga re sa

The vadi (most popular) note is 'pa' and samvadi (second most popular) note is

This raga is sung at the first part of the day i.e., from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The season of its recitation is spring (basant) i.e., during February and March. In Guru Granth Sahib it has hymns from pages 728 - 794 (65 pages).

The Composers:

The composers of bani (hymns) in this raga are:

Gurus

  • Guru Nanak
  • Guru Angad
  • Guru Amardas
  • Guru Ramdas
  • Guru Arjan Dev

Bhagats:

  • Kabir
  • Ravidas
  • Farid

The Structure

The sequence of the structure of compositions in this raga are:

Gurubani:

  • Shabads (1,2,3,4, and 5 padas)
  • Shabads ( 8 padas Ashtpadis)
  • Shabads (Chhants)
  • Shabads (Specialist compositions)
  • Shabads (var)

Matrix

VISUAL ANALYSIS

Count of the use of Managals:

  • Complete Mool Mantar = 1 at page 728
  • Ik-ongkar Satgur Prasadh = 42

Placement and count of rahau verses:

All shabads and ashtpadis have rahau verses with numerals and are placed at the end of the first padas of the shabads. Specialist compositions 'Suchajji and Kuchajji of Guru Nanak and 'Gunwanti' of Guru Arjan have no rahau verses in them.

The Bhagat Bani has rahau verse with numerals and is placed at the end of the first padas of the shabads.

Diversification of headings & subheadings in this raga:

Page number

Heading/Subheading

728

Raga Suhi Mehla 1 chaupadas Ghar 1

750

Raga Suhi Ashtpadis Mehla 1 Ghar 1

751

Suhi Mehla 1 Kafi Ghar 10

753

Raga Suhi Mehla 3 Ghar 1 Ashtpadis

764

Raga Suhi Mehla 1 Chhant Ghar 2

765

Raga Suhi Chhant Mehla 1 Ghar 4

Composers Structure of Bani

 

Padas

 

 

 

 

Ashtpadis

Specialist

 

Chts

Specialist

Var

Sloaks*

Gurus

2

3

4

5

6

8 (padas)

untiled

Titled

 

 

 

 

Nanak

 

 

6

1

1

5

 

2,

Kuchajji=

1 pada,

Suchajji=

1 pada

5

 

 

21

Angad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

Amardas

 

 

 

 

 

4, one

compo-

sition

has 34

 

 

7

 

20

pauris

15

Ramdas

 

 

14

 

1

padas

2, 1st

compo

sition

=32 padas,

2nd

compo

sition

= 14 padas

 

 

6

 

 

 

Arjan Dev

6

1

50

1

 

5

 

Gunwanti,

1 pada

11

 

 

 

Bhagats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kabir

 

1

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ravidas

 

2

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farid

 

1

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Pds= padas
  • Chts = Chhants

 

Excerpts taken from:
Guru Granth Sahib: An Advance Study
Dr Sukhbir Singh Kapoor
Vice Chancellor World Sikh University, London